iphone simulator in safari

Simulate Device On Safari

• Safari and Web
• Safari Developer Tools

Accepted Reply

You can emulate many iOS devices and runtimes using the Simulator included with Xcode, and remotely debug/inspect those webviews using Safari's Develop menu.

You can test out responsive layouts using Safari's Responsive Design Mode tool, under the Develop menu. This is also compatible with Web Inspector.

You can emulate many iOS devices and runtimes using the Simulator included with Xcode, and remotely debug/inspect those webviews using Safari's Develop menu

Can you kindly provide a step-by-step way to do this? I have opened my simulator and have a web page running, however when I go to Safari's Develop menu, there is no such menu item as "debug/inspect webview from Simulator", it does not exist.

@alberto567 there was shown devices, but now they are gone and you can just set px size of screen, but this is even not function as mobile for sites... :/

Freelance iOS, macOS, Apple Watch, and Apple TV Developer

Web inspector on ios devices and simulators.

Want to keep up to date? Sign up to my free newsletter which will give you exclusive updates on all of my projects along with early access to future apps.

Over the past few weeks I’ve worked on a number of projects that have necessitated me working with HTML and JavaScript be that via Safari on iOS, an SFSafariViewController, or in an embedded WKWebView. In all of these cases, I’ve needed to dive into the DOM to see what styles are being applied to certain elements or dig into a JavaScript Console to work out why some code isn’t working. On desktop, this is trivial as Safari has a Web Inspector panel built in similar to other browsers. It turns out it is also trivial on mobile as the exact same tool can be used with both iOS simulators and physical devices.

If you select the ‘Develop’ tab from the menu bar of Safari on macOS, you’ll see a list of all of your connected devices and actively running simulators 1 . Drilling into this will then show all of the active web instances you can interact with; notice how the content within Safari has highlighted blue within the Simulator as I’ve moused over the twitter.com web instance above. When you click, a web inspector panel is then produced which allows you to make all the usual interrogations and changes you can within desktop Safari such as interacting with the console or changing CSS values of elements to see how they would look in realtime.

Here’s an example using a WKWebView within one of my client projects, Yabla Spanish :

Discovering that simulators and devices could be interacted with in this way has been a huge timesaver for me. Whilst developing Browser Note , I was constantly needing to tweak CSS values and investigate the current state of the DOM as websites have various tricks to try and make ads or cookie notices appear on top of all content (and the note needed to be on top at all times - you should totally take a look at Browser Note whilst you’re here). In doing this, I was then able to put this knowledge to use on no less than 3 client projects in the past month; this validates my theory that by working on your own side projects you can improve your efficiency when it comes to work projects.

There are a few caveats to be aware of when using the Web Inspector with an iOS device or simulator:

• If you want to use this on an actual device you’ll first need to enable the Web Inspector on iOS. To do this, go to the Settings app and then Safari > Advanced and toggle the Web Inspector on.
• Whilst the Web Inspector can interrogate WKWebView, it can only do this for apps you are running via Xcode. You cannot look at the WKWebView of apps you did not create nor of your own apps from TestFlight / the App Store. However, you can inspect debug builds installed via Xcode even if the debugger is not active (i.e. you build to the device then quit Xcode).
• Conversely, you can use the Web Inspector with any SFSafariViewController even if it is not in your own app.
• Whilst it is still possible to submit apps that use UIWebView, the web inspector will not work with them; it needs to be WKWebView .
• This also works for AppKit, SwiftUI, and Catalyst apps on macOS.

I use an “iDod” naming prefix for all of my devices; a throwback pun to my first Apple product, the iPod.  ↩︎

• Editor's Choice: Tech Gifts for Mom
• Apple Event: What to Expect

How to Activate the iPhone Debug Console or Web Inspector

Use Safari's web developer tools to study problematic websites

• Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
• Switching from Android

What to Know

• Activate Web Inspector on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced and move the Web Inspector toggle switch to the On position.
• Use Web Inspector on macOS: Connect your iOS device to a Mac and choose the URL to inspect from the Develop menu.

If you run into a bug or another issue with a website on Safari mobile, use the Web Inspector tool to investigate. This article explains how to use the Safari console for iPhone to debug errors with the help of your Mac computer. Instructions apply to iPhones with iOS 14, iOS 12, or iOS 11, and well as Macs with macOS Big Sur (11.0), macOS Catalina (10.15), or macOS Mojave (10.14).

Activate Web Inspector on Your iPhone or Other iOS Device

The Web Inspector is disabled by default since most iPhone users have no use for it. However, if you're a developer or you're curious, you can activate it in a few short steps. Here's how:

Open the iPhone  Settings  menu.

On an iPhone with an early version of iOS, access the Debug Console through Settings > Safari > Developer > Debug Console . When Safari on the iPhone detects CSS, HTML, and JavaScript errors, details of each display in the debugger.

Scroll down and tap  Safari  to open the screen that contains everything related to the Safari web browser on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Advanced .

Move the Web Inspector toggle switch to the On position.

Connect Your iOS Device to Safari on a Mac

To use the Web Inspector, connect your iPhone or another iOS device to a Mac that has the Safari web browser and enable the Develop menu .

With Safari open, select Safari from the menu bar and choose  Preferences .

Select the  Advanced  tab.

Select the Show Develop menu in menu bar check box and close the settings window.

From the Safari menu bar, select Develop and choose the name of your attached iOS device, then select the URL that appears under Safari to open the debug console for that site.

After you connect your device, use your Mac to inspect the website you want to debug and have it open in the Safari mobile browser.

What Is Web Inspector?

Web developers use Web Inspector to modify, debug, and optimize websites on Macs and iOS devices. With Web Inspector open, developers can inspect the resources on a web page. The Web Inspector window contains editable HTML and notes regarding the styles and layers of the web page in a separate panel.

Before iOS 6, the iPhone Safari web browser had a built-in Debug Console that developers used to find web page defects. Recent versions of iOS use Web Inspector instead.

With Safari 9 and OS X Mavericks (10.9), Apple introduced Responsive Design Mode in Web Inspector. Developers use this built-in simulator to preview how web pages scale to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations.

To set up Web Inspector on your iPad, open your iPad's Settings and select Safari > Advanced , then turn Web Inspector On . Connect the iPad to a Mac computer, then open Safari on the Mac and select Safari > Preferences > Advanced , then turn on Show Develop menu in menu bar .

You cannot just connect your iPhone to a Windows PC and start using Web Inspector through Chrome like you can with a Mac. Installing package manager software can provide you a sort of workaround, but it's not recommended unless you're familiar with the package management app you intend to use.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

• Add More Features by Turning on Safari's Develop Menu
• 4 Ways to Play Fortnite on iPhone
• How to Activate and Use Responsive Design Mode in Safari
• How to Change the Default Search Engine in Chrome for iOS
• What Is Safari?
• How to Inspect an Element on a Mac
• How to Use Web Browser Developer Tools
• How to Clear Search History on iPhone
• How to Disable JavaScript in Safari for iPhone
• How to Reset Safari to Default Settings
• How to View HTML Source in Safari
• How to Manage History and Browsing Data on iPhone
• 10 Hidden Features in macOS Sonoma
• How to Manage Cookies in the Safari Browser
• How to Change Your Homepage in Safari
• How to Clear Private Data, Caches, and Cookies on Mac

Setting Up an iOS Simulator on Your Mac

  Matt Cone        January 1, 2013      Tutorials Mac Developer

Web developers know it’s important to test their websites on every web browser and device possible. And with the growing popularity of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, it’s only natural that they’ll also want to test their websites on all of those devices. But short of stocking up on a bunch of Apple products, how can developers preview their websites in iOS?

Actually, it’s easy. Anybody can do it by installing Apple’s iOS simulator on their Mac for free. This functional demo, complete with the mobile Safari web browser, allows you to preview your website or web application in iOS. It looks exactly the same as it does on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

There are limitations to the simulator. You can’t install apps from the App Store in the simulator, so forget about playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted . And many of the apps that come preinstalled on iOS devices are not available in the simulator. Here’s the bottom line: This stripped-down simulator is great for testing websites, but not much else.

Installing the iOS Simulator on Your Mac

Ready to get started? The first step is downloading Xcode and installing the iOS simulator on your Mac. Here’s how to install the iOS simulator on your Mac:

Download and install Xcode from the Mac App Store. It’s free!

Right click on the Xcode icon in the Applications folder and select Show Package Contents , as shown below.

Open the iPhone Simulator application. You can find the alias in Contents → Applications, as shown below.

For easy access to the iOS simulator in the future, drag and drop the iOS Simulator alias on to your Desktop or the Applications folder.

The iOS simulator is now installed and running on your Mac, as shown below.

As mentioned earlier, you’ll notice that the simulator is missing a lot of the applications and settings that come with every iOS device.

Rotating the Simulator

Every iOS device has a gyroscope that keeps track of the screen’s orientation. For example, if you turn the device horizontally, iOS will automatically rotate the screen if you’re using an app that supports the feature. The simulator can rotate, too! It can be a useful tool when you’re developing a responsive website or web app.

Here’s how to rotate the simulator:

• Open the iOS simulator, if it’s not already open.

Open the Safari app in the simulator.

From the Hardware menu, select Rotate Left or Rotate Right . The simulator will rotate, as shown below.

To rotate the simulator back again, select a rotation option from the Hardware menu.

Simulating Different iOS Devices

What good would an iOS simulator be without the ability to switch between the different dimensions of the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and the different versions of the iPad? The simulator lets you use them all on your Mac. Here’s how to simulate a different iOS device with the iOS simulator:

• From the Hardware menu, select Device , and then select the type of device you want to simulate.
• The simulator window will change to match the dimensions of the device you selected.

To restore the original window with the iPhone case as a border, select iPhone .

Subscribe to our email newsletter

Sign up and get Macinstruct's tutorials delivered to your inbox. No spam, promise!

About      Privacy Policy      Terms and Conditions

© 2023. A Matt Cone project. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 . Made with 🌶️ in New Mexico .

How to Emulate the Latest Safari Browser Online

Start automating your tests 5X Faster in Simple English with Testsigma

Browser emulators are ideal for testing how responsive a site is. The term ‘browser emulator’ refers to software that imitates the functionality of various web browsers. For instance, a Safari emulator aims to emulate Safari. 

Emulators help attain the exact look and feel of an actual Safari browser when a website is launched on it. Safari is a popular browser exclusive to Apple devices. Although Apple has discontinued its usage in other operating systems, users can download older versions if they want to test its features.

You need to use a cross-browser testing tool, a virtual machine, or an emulator to emulate Safari browser online. This helps evaluate if a website is working as per expectations.

Table Of Contents

• 1 Can You Run the Safari Browser on Windows 10 & 11?
• 2.1 Use a Virtual Machine
• 2.2 Use Cross-Browser Testing Tools
• 3 How to Test Safari Browser on Windows?
• 4.1 How to Emulate Safari on Linux?
• 5.1 How to Emulate Safari on Chrome
• 5.2 How to Emulate Safari in Firefox
• 5.3 How to Emulate Safari on Internet Explorer?
• 5.4 How to Emulate Safari on Edge?
• 6 Emulate Safari Browser Online 
• 8.1 Can you emulate Safari on PC?
• 8.2 How do I emulate a device in Safari?
• 8.3 How do I test Safari online?
• Can You Run the Safari Browser on Windows 10 & 11?

A segment of users wishes to use Safari as a default browser on Windows 10 and 11. This is because of its user-friendly design and speed. Safari runs parallel with popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox when it comes to its outstanding performance. However, there is a catch. 

Even if you can download Safari on Windows, you risk your system because you can face potential security issues. The overall performance of your PC might even get compromised if you download expired or old versions of the software. Apple, therefore, has discontinued offering Safari as a standalone browser for any other operating system, including Windows. 

However, you can install the browser as a substitute browser on any PC that runs the operating system of Microsoft from unofficial online platforms. Concludingly, we can say that there is currently no Safari emulator for Windows. 

No Safari emulator is dedicated to running on any version of Windows, be it Windows 10 or 11. However, many websites offer users the option of testing Safari on Windows.

How Can I Test Websites on Safari Without Mac? 

Safari has been deemed the second most popular browser in 2022 and is the native default browser of Apple devices. It is an ideal browser for testing any online product or site because of its fast responsiveness.

However, one of the biggest challenges most software testers and website developers face is the lack of a Mac (iMac or Macbook). You are primarily required to have a Mac for both automated and manual testing in the Safari browser because this browser is platform-specific.

To address this problem, you can use the following hacks to test your product on the Safari browser:-

Use a Virtual Machine

You don’t need to worry about not having a Mac to run your tests on the Safari browser. To do so, you can easily conduct them on a Windows local host with the help of a virtual machine by using your PC or system as the server. 

Numerous virtual machines are available for you to choose from, and they will run any browser inside Linux or Windows. 

All you need to do is configure a handful of settings at the hardware and the software level (choosing the amount of disk space and RAM to allocate to each OS). Your computer, however, needs to have enough power to sustain this configuration. 

Use Cross-Browser Testing Tools

It is imperative to run any website on multiple browsers to ensure a smooth-sailing experience for visitors. To overcome the challenge of testing websites on Safari without a Mac, you opt for cross-browser testing tools. These tools will allow you to see how the website functions and looks on multiple browsers in one go. It does not require additional costs and is ideal for testing various websites on Safari. 

What Tools Do You Use for Cross-Browser Testing? 

You can easily use special tools to test cross-browser compatibility. This will allow you to check the overall outlook of a website in numerous browsers as well as mobile devices.

Advantages of Cross-Browser Testing

The advantages of using a cross-browser testing platform are listed below:-

• It saves time: With cross-browser testing, you can check your website for any hidden bugs or glitches before launching it. This helps save money and time because it detects issues before publishing the website. 
• Test on local and on-premise machines: With cross-browser testing, you can run test cases and websites on any OS environment on any local system behind firewalls.
• Numerous test reporting procedures: You can choose any preferred reporting from videos, images, and the like for better understanding.
• Real test environments: You can seamlessly check your cross-browser compatibility on actual browsers to identify every kink and bug in your website or application.
• Secure customer privacy: These platforms take stringent measures to help maintain the privacy of every customer.
• Broad test coverage: Most platforms for browser testing are codeless because they are AI or NLP-powered. This helps in reaching a broader test coverage.
• Debugging is easy: The debugging features in cross-browser testing platforms are top-notch to help deliver bug-free websites seamlessly.
• Easy CI/CD integration: Most cross-browser platforms have convenient CI/CD pipelines for managing faster and continuous delivery.
• 24*7 test runs: Cloud-based cross-browser testing platforms help run test suites 24*7 to conduct faster and more efficient testing with the least effort.
• Requires no additional coding: You need not have prior knowledge of CSS or HTML coding for cross-browser testing. They are user-friendly and can even be used by beginners.

Common Cross-Browser Testing Tools

If you cannot use emulators or have access to actual devices, you can opt for cloud-based emulators. One of the biggest advantages of using cloud-based emulators rather than local emulators or real devices is automating unit tests for your site across various platforms. 

To make things easy for you, we have consolidated a list of top-tier testing sites and cloud-based emulators:-

Testsigma is a reliable and comprehensive test automation platform. With Testsigma, you can run automated tests for your applications and software seamlessly. It helps ensure the compatibility of your website or application across various browsers.

It is highly scalable as a cloud-based test automation platform where you can run parallel tests and even write automated tests in simple English. Besides, the platform is ideal for both visual and functional testing. We have listed some of the best advantages of using Testsigma as a cross-browser testing platform:-

• Covers over 2000+ native browser or device combinations
• Helps track issues with test logs
• Enables local testing functionality
• Runs automated tests in parallel and gets results fast 
• Performs automated screenshot testing and Video Responsive testing 
• Tools like Jira, Slack, and others are available for integration 
• Offers geo-location testing 

BrowserStack

BrowserStack is an online testing platform for seamless manual and automated testing. You need to choose an appropriate operating system, a device type, a browser version, and a URL for browsing. BrowserStack offers a reliable hosted virtual machine for user interaction.

You can easily run many emulators all at the same time without having to change screens. You can even test out the look and feel of your website or app across numerous browsers and devices. Some advantages you can reap out of using Browserstack as a cross-browser testing platform are as follows:-

• Ability to reproduce, debug and solve issues to launch bug-free websites and apps. 
• Built for all kinds of teams, starting from Engineering, Marketing, Product, Support, and Growth for testing, collaborating, and delivering quality.
• Highly scalable and can accommodate large teams for successfully shipping out applications and websites.

LambdaTest is another widely used online testing platform where users can perform manual cross-browser testing. You can run a combination of multiple operating systems and browsers at once. You can even record videos of complicated bugs and share them via Slack, Microsoft Teams, and more.

Besides, the platform allows you to speed up your testing by running parallel testing. Some of the best features are:-

• You can test multiple browsers on any OS environment or browser of your choice. 
• It has a highly scalable cloud infrastructure. 
• It is highly secure and reliable for performing automated cross-browser testing .
• It offers high execution speeds as well as fast, automated screenshots.
• With its handy reporting feature and detailed integration, you can easily analyze your test runs and immediately send reports.

BrowserShots 

Browsershots is an open-source online platform that offers developers an easy and user-friendly way to run tests for checking a website’s compatibility with a browser. It also allows screenshotting your web design in numerous operating systems and browsers. BrowserShots is completely free of cost, which is convenient for checking how your website looks across multiple browsers.

• How to Test Safari Browser on Windows?

Testing Safari Browser on Windows can be challenging because Safari is primarily designed for macOS and iOS platforms. However, there are a few approaches you can consider to test Safari on a Windows machine:

• Remote testing services: Utilize remote testing services such as BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, which offer virtual machines with different operating systems and browsers, including Safari on macOS. These services allow you to access and test Safari on real macOS environments directly from your Windows machine through a web browser.
• macOS virtual machines: Set up a macOS virtual machine (VM) on your Windows computer using virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox. You can install Safari on the macOS VM and perform testing as you would on a native macOS environment.
• Remote access to macOS device: If you have access to a physical macOS device, you can remotely connect to it from your Windows machine using remote desktop software like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or Chrome Remote Desktop. This allows you to control and test Safari on the macOS device without needing to physically access it.
• Cross-browser testing tools: Some cross-browser testing tools like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs offer a feature called “Interactive Testing” where you can remotely access and interact with Safari browsers running on real macOS devices from your Windows machine.

Cloud-based test automation platforms: Consider using a cloud-based test automation platform like Testsigma, which provides access to real macOS environments with Safari installed. Testsigma allows you to run automated tests on Safari Browsers without needing physical access to macOS devices.

Emulate Safari Across Other Different OS

There are separate pathways for different operating systems when it comes to emulating Safari. We have consolidated the best ways to emulate Safari on the following OS:-

How to Emulate Safari on Linux?

To emulate Safari on Linux, you can follow two methods.

• Installing Safari using WINE.
• Using WINE and PlayOnLinux provides a graphical user interface (UI) for WINE. 
• Using a virtual visualization application for cross-browser testing

Emulate Safari Using Various Browsers

There are several browsers available that users use at their convenience. This is why you must test it on every possible platform before launching your website or application. Down below, we have listed the various ways you can emulate Safari on numerous browsers:-

How to Emulate Safari on Chrome

To emulate Safari on Chrome, you can use websites such as TestingBot or Chrome extensions such as BrowserStack. BrowserStack is a very reliable solution that allows you to initiate testing sessions with a large number of device and browser combinations. You can immediately set up a Safari testing environment by clicking on the BrowserStack extension icon in your Chrome browser.

Alternatively, you can use these steps to emulate Safari using the Developer tools:

• Hit the Control + Shift + I keys to open the Developer tools environment
• Go to the Network tab and click on Network conditions
• Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Use browser default’ radio button and click on the dropdown with the ‘custom’ label
• Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari, and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with

How to Emulate Safari in Firefox

Firefox is notably one of the most popular browsers used by millions worldwide. If you want to emulate Safari in Firefox, you have to use visualization software which you can download as a browser extension or turn to a cross-browser testing website. The latter option is completely free of cost, hassle-free, and requires no technological prowess.

How to Emulate Safari on Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer is one of the oldest browsers known to mankind. Although quite rarely used, it is still surprisingly used to this day. If you still use Internet Explorer to this day, you can emulate Safari on Internet Explorer with a cross-browser testing platform or an additionally installed extension. 

How to Emulate Safari on Edge?

Edge is a popular browser developed by Microsoft. You can emulate other browsers by changing the user string. If you want to emulate Safari on Edge, you need to follow the steps listed below:-

• Open Microsoft Edge and visit the link you wish to test
• Hit the F12 key to open the Developer tools environment
• Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Select automatically’ radio button and click on the dropdown
• Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with
• Emulate Safari Browser Online 

Although the ideal way to emulate Safari is by using an open-source testing platform, some other ways to do the same have been listed below:-

• Using browser widgets
• Downloading older versions of Safari, like Safari 5.1.7 or previous versions 

Every application or website is built using codes using HTML, JavaScript, or CSS elements. Since they are launched online, it is impossible to ascertain which user will use which browser. Safari has its own technology, comes with its own set of challenges, and interprets every application in its own way. 

Therefore, to ensure that your website or application runs smoothly on Safari, you need to conduct cross-browser testing to maintain consistency in its display and functionality. Running automation tests is also integral to software testing. Testsigma is a great platform for seamlessly running automation tests. 

Frequently asked questions

Can you emulate safari on pc.

The Safari Browser has now been limited only to macOS and iOS. However, you can easily emulate this browser on Windows or any other OS by using a virtual machine with your computer as the server. 

How do I emulate a device in Safari?

To emulate a device in Safari, you can use the Simulator added with Xcode and debug/inspect those reviews remotely by using the Develop menu in Safari.

How do I test Safari online?

To run a website on a Safari browser without a Mac, you can use a cross-browser testing tool or an online testing platform. 

Suggested Reading

Android Emulator Online

RELATED BLOGS

Backward Compatibility Testing | What It is & How to do?

How to Test On Browser Emulator?

How to Emulate Chrome Browser Online?

Start automating your tests now

Demo Appetize.io's online web based iOS Simulators and Android Emulators directly in your browser.

• Español – América Latina
• Português – Brasil
• Tiếng Việt

Tools and debug

All the tools available for web development are also helpful for progressive web app development, including libraries, frameworks, code editors, builders, developer tools, debuggers, and more. But when working with PWA-specific abilities, such as installability, service workers, offline support, and more, certain tools for PWA are extra helpful. Let's see them in action.

Simulators and devices

As mentioned in the Foundations chapter , you should use agnostic design patterns to offer the best experience to every user in every context. However, it's good practice to test your experiences on different devices.

You probably won't own dozens of physical devices, including iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and desktops or laptops with different operating systems. That's why simulators and emulators exist.

Simple simulators

Most developer tools within browsers let you test your PWAs in different screen sizes or network conditions while using a single desktop browser engine. Some of these tools can also force a different user agent under these simulations.

Some available simulators are:

• Chromium DevTools: Device Mode , network throttling and several sensor simulations available
• Firefox Developer Tools: Responsive Design Mode

Apple simulators

Apple offers the Simulator app (formerly known as iOS Simulator) which allows you to test your web app on different iPhones and iPads on various operating system versions.

The Simulator app is only available for macOS computers, and it comes with [Xcode, available in AppStore ; it simulates iOS and iPadOS with different device configurations. It includes the real Mobile Safari app and the Web.app engine used when your PWA is installed on the home screen, so the final experience you see is fairly representative of an actual device.

To launch the app, once you have installed Xcode, you can open the Simulator in the Xcode menu, by selecting Open Developer Tools then Simulator . Once in the simulator, you can open Safari as if you are in a real iPhone or iPad. You can open other devices by selecting File then Open Simulator menu.

Some useful shortcuts for web developers while using Simulator to test PWAs are:

• Command-Shift-H : go to the Home screen.
• Control-Command-Shift-H : access the App Switcher.
• Command-Right and Command-Left : rotate the device.

Simulator is not a virtual machine, but an app running on top of your macOS that looks like an iPhone or iPad, so it doesn't have its own TCP stack. Therefore, if you use localhost within Simulator, Safari will point to your macOS localhost device.

By default, Xcode only installs the latest version of iOS, but you can go to Xcode, use the Preferences menu, and download older Simulators from the Components tab.

It's good practice to test your PWA on the latest version of iOS, the previous minor version, and at least one previous major version.

Android emulators

The Android ecosystem offers different emulators, but the ones available within the Android SDK are the most commonly used.

As a PWA developer, you also need browsers in your Android emulator, which will add a layer of complexity to testing, because AOSP (Android Open Source Project) doesn't include Google Chrome or Play Store to download browsers. Therefore, not every Android emulator is helpful for PWA testing.

The Android SDK comes with two tools useful for emulation:

• SDK Manager: downloads and updates different operating system versions and plugins.
• AVD Manager: adds, edits, and deletes Android Virtual Devices (AVDs), each of them representing one device with one Android OS installed, similar to a virtual machine instance.

You can only install the Android SDK or Android Studio , a free IDE including the Android SDK with the emulators. With the SDK, you will have to use the command line to open and set up your emulators. With Android Studio, you can open the tools needed from the Welcome screen's menu. Once in the AVD Manager, you can create as many devices as you want, with different combinations of screen size, abilities, and Android OS version.

With an Android emulator, you can check your PWA installation support, the entire user experience, and if the abilities you are using are working as expected.

Using Google Chrome

To use Google Chrome in the Android emulator, you have to create an AVD with Play Services inside. To do that, make sure the SDK you use for your AVD has the Play icon, as you can see in the following image:

AVDs with Play services also include Play Store, so you can update your Chrome with the latest version after setting up your account with your Google account.

Using other browsers

If you use an AVD with Play services, you can also download browsers from the Play Store.

Most of the browsers available for Android, including Samsung Internet, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Firefox, and Brave, are available as APKs (Android Packages). If you have the APK for the browser you want to test, you can just drag the file to the emulator or install it through the command-line using ADB .

Desktop emulators

Emulating a different desktop computer is typically done via a virtual machine system, such as VirtualBox or VMWare. Even with these tools, emulating some environments is impossible, such as emulating macOS on Windows or Linux, and some other options may require a license, such as emulating Windows on macOS or Windows.

Using physical devices

Using actual devices to test your PWA is also a good idea. We don't need to own several devices as there are some cloud-based solutions where you can use physical devices remotely. There are some free solutions and some commercial solutions with a free-tier available.

One of the available solutions is Samsung Remote Test Lab , a free solution to test your PWA on Samsung devices, including phones, tablets, and foldable devices.

Remote inspection

When you want to debug your Progressive Web App in an actual device, a simulator, or an emulator, you may want to connect a remote inspection session with your desktop's browser tools.

There are commercial tools available, but all the browsers also offer ways to do it, including:

• WebKit Remote Inspector to connect to Safari and installed PWAs on iOS- and iPadOS-connected devices and simulators.
• Chromium DevTools Remote Debugging to connect to Chrome, Edge, Samsung Internet, and other Chromium-based browsers on Android and PWAs installed from those browsers, including connected physical devices and emulators.
• Firefox Remote Debugging to connect to Firefox for Android on connected actual devices and emulators.

Port forwarding for Android

When testing PWAs available on localhost on Android physical devices or emulators, you will have a problem, as localhost will point to the Android TCP stack and not your development machine.

You may want to use your local IP address as a replacement to localhost , but that's not a good idea as service workers and many abilities will only work with HTTPS connections, with the exception of localhost , so your PWA won't work offline or pass PWA criteria.

You can solve the problem by enabling port forwarding on a Chromium browser on your desktop computer. In that case, you can bridge a port on localhost on the Android device to any origin and port from your host computer, including your development computer's localhost . Check this guide for more information.

Chromium browsers

Chromium browsers offer many tools for debugging and testing Progressive Web Apps, starting from DevTools.

Most Chromium-based browsers, including Samsung Internet, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome, offer different channels, such as Stable, Beta, and Canary. You can install separate versions on desktop and Android to test your PWA on future versions of the browser. This allows you to build and test features that are not yet widely available, or to test deprecations and changes, and work out how your app will behave in newer versions.

Using remote inspection, you can use all these tools to debug and test your PWA on desktop and Android devices.

Service worker tools

Chromium DevTools has a complete set of tools to debug service workers and their APIs' "Application" tab. From the "Service Workers" section, you can:

• See service workers' installation status and lifecycle.
• Update and unregister the service worker.
• Follow the update cycle.
• See current service workers' clients.
• Send a push message to a service worker.
• Register Background Sync and Periodic Background Sync operations.

Read more about these tools .

Storage tools

Within Application then Storage , you can see, preview, update, and delete data from your origin, such as Web Storage entries or IndexedDB stores. Inside Application , Cache then Cache Storage , you can see all the caches stored in current origin, preview content, and delete entries. Read more about the cache tool .

Also, selecting from Application then Storage , you can see the current quota used, simulate custom quota storage, and clear all your data, including the service worker registration, using Clear site data .

Background services

Chromium DevTools also has a set of background services event recording tools, found by clicking Application then Background Services . This lets you see what happens with some events in the background on top of the service workers' API. Read more about these tools .

Web app manifest tools

Chromium DevTools has a section for Web App Manifest and installability criteria under Application , Manifest . In this section, you can check whether the manifest has loaded correctly, the manifest's values, how the icons look, the app id , and a quick checker for maskable icons .

Warnings and errors around installability criteria issues are also shown in this section.

Installation debugging

On Android devices using WebAPK installation mode , you can access a list of installed apps by browsing to about:webapk on Chromium browsers.

You will see the current update status and request a WebAPK update from here.

On desktop computers, you can see a user-friendly list of installed PWAs by browsing to about:apps , and a debug version by browsing to about:app-service-internals .

At the time of writing, Safari has a more limited set of tools available for PWA testing and debugging. There are no tools to see and debug the state and lifecycle of service workers, no inspector for the cache's content, and no tools for web app manifest support and installability on iOS and iPadOS.

Safari is available only on stable, while Safari Technology Preview available for macOS will only let you try abilities of future versions of Safari beforehand. The iOS and iPadOS beta programs sometimes include new versions of Safari that you can use for testing.

What you can do on Safari (both on macOS and remotely for iOS and iPadOS) is to open an inspector window for a service worker that is currently running.

From Safari on macOS, the Develop , Service Workers menu will list all the currently running service worker sessions. You have to select the device to inspect in the Develop menu for remote inspection. Service workers' contexts will appear in the same submenu as window contexts under the origin's or PWA's installed name.

If you select one of them, Safari will open a new window with a restricted inspector, including only Consoles , Sources , and Network Tabs .

Firefox supports service workers on all platforms and App Manifest for installation only on Android. You can access the tools for PWAs on desktop and Android by a USB remote inspection session .

You can use the desktop version known as Firefox Developer Edition . As with Chromium browser, Firefox has versions in different channels on desktop and Android, including stable, beta, and dev versions.

Tools for PWAs

The service worker inspector on Firefox is a basic tool available in Developer Tools under Application , Service Workers . It lets you see the currently registered service worker, check its running status, and unregister it. Debugging the service worker's code may only be available on some developer versions of Firefox.

The manifest tool is available under Application , Manifest , and it only renders the manifest's values with a preview of the icons.

Under Storage , you can manage the origin's storage, including IndexedDB and Cache Storage.

You can read more about Firefox developer tooling for web apps .

• Chrome DevTools: Debug Progressive Web Apps
• Debug PWAs on Edge
• Firefox Developer Tools: Application Tab
• Debugging Service Workers in Chrome (video)

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License , and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License . For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies . Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2022-05-15 UTC.

Debug iOS Safari with Xcode Simulator and Web Inspector

• Published: 15 Jun 2020

Uses: Xcode simulator

How I debug CSS for iOS Safari on my MacBook Pro.

If you're like me and don’t have an iOS device, you can use Xcode Simulator to view and debug mobile Safari from your Mac.

Why would you need to simulate mobile Safari? Phones in general don't even have web inspectors for debugging. Have you ever had a CSS quirk on an iPhone and no iPhone to test with? I have.

As a lifelong Android user and web designer by trade, I regularly need to preview, test, or fix things for iOS Safari. Thankfully my MacBook has a way to simulate iOS devices so that I can preview and debug mobile Safari! Likewise, it can simulate older and newer iOS versions if needed.

The following steps may vary for newer and older versions of macOS, Xcode, and Safari. This guide uses:

• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
• macOS Mojave version 10.14.6
• Xcode version 11.3.1
• Safari version 13.1.1

Step 1: Open Xcode and Launch Simulator

From your Applications, launch Xcode. (Optionally, update Xcode if it yells at you when you try to open it.)

Once Xcode opens, navigate to Open Developer Tool > Simulator from the Mac toolbar.

If you’re a Spotlight user (which I am not), just search for Simulator and bypass launching Xcode altogether.

Step 2: Adjust the Simulator

A simulated device should pop up on your screen and begin loading. From the Mac toolbar, you can adjust the simulator via Hardware > Devices and select the OS and Device. You can pick from various iPhones and iPads in the iOS dropdown.

If you need something different, select Manage Devices for a suite of additional options:

Under Devices, add a device connected through USB.

Under Simulators, add a new simulator by selecting a device and iOS version (or install an additional iOS version runtime).

You can choose to use the simulation at the actual device size (instead of your screen's full height). Assign it via the Mac toolbar under Window to Physical Size.

Step 3: Simulate iOS Safari

In the Simulator, open up mobile Safari. Navigate to the appropriate page you’d like to interact with via Safari Web Inspector.

On your Mac, open up Safari. In the Mac toolbar under Develop , select the Simulator option beneath your device’s name. Pick the iOS Safari tab loaded in the Simulator. Web Inspector will launch to start debugging mobile Safari!

Step 4: Use Web Inspector to Debug Mobile Safari

Now you can go about your business and hopefully resolve whatever brought you down this rabbit hole to begin with. Debug mobile Safari just like you normally would for desktop Safari.

Additional Resources

Need more help?

• Visit Apple's Simulator Help
• Visit Apple's Safari Developer Help

Other guides that may be helpful:

• Debugging Your iPhone Mobile Web App With Safari Dev Tools by Matthew Croak on Medium [Premium Article]
• How to Use Web Inspector to Debug Mobile Safari (iPhone or iPad) by SK on Apple Toolbox

Simulator Bonuses

In the Simulator, from the Mac toolbar under File you can take a New Screen Shot , or use CMD+S.

For a how-to on more features and functionality offered in the Simulator, browse the Help section. I kind of want a Force Touch track pad now...

• Written by Melanie E Magdalena

Tags: # debugging

Thanks for reading! If this helped or you learned something, Buy Me A Coffee.

• Web Hosting
• Customer Spotlights
• Design + Creative
• Web Development + Tech
• Work + Life
• Cloud Hosting
• Media Temple Updates
• Content Management System
• Browser Extensions
• AWS Security

Quick Tip: Debug iOS Safari on a True Local Emulator (or your actual iPhone/iPad)

I’m sure plenty of folks know this, but like literally anything else in the world, plenty of folks don’t. This is an incredibly handy feature of developing responsive sites and testing them on as real of devices as you can. Plus, it doesn’t cost anything additional beyond your macOS computer.

Step 1) Download Xcode

The iOS Simulator is an app that comes bundled with Xcode. Xcode is free and you get it from the app store .

Step 2) Open Simulator

It’s in the main Xcode menu at Open Developer Tool > Simulator.

It will be a new icon in your dock. I like to move it so that it stays an icon in my dock, and I don’t need to open Xcode again to find it and use it.

(^ It’s on the far right here.)

The window for the simulator is like a fake Apple device. You can simulate just about anything (Watch, AppleTV, iPad, etc) by going to Hardware > Device.

Step 3) Open Safari and go to a website

Easy enough to type something in. It understands keyboard input so you don’t have to like use the mouse to click fake on-screen keys.

Important trick! Often times you are pasting a URL into the address field. To do this, you’ll need to have the URL on your clipboard, activate the simulator, press ⌘-V to paste, then you can click to bring up the iOS paste menu and paste it. At least… that’s what you used to have to do. I just recently upgraded to Xcode 10 and it seems like you can simply ⌘-V right into the URL bar now, so perhaps the weird work-around is fixed.

Step 4) Open Desktop Safari & Web Inspector

You’ll need to go to Settings > Advanced and check the Show Debug Menu option. Then you’ll see the option to open the web inspector for the Simulator right from that menu.

With the Web Inspector open, you can debug inside the Simulator just like you could right in a desktop browser with DevTools.

Actual Devices

Simulators are pretty great because they are easy and just a few clicks away. But if for whatever reason you want to test on a real device, you also can do that. As long as:

• The device is connected to your computer (lightning to USB), and it’s “trusted”.
• You have an “inspectable” application open, like Safari.

It should show up in the same Debug menu in Safari and let you inspect the browser right on the real device. It’s a bit surreal to watch the blue-boxes of Web Inspector showing up on your real device!

Looking for some useful browser extensions as well? Click here .

Click here to build your next great project on Media Temple.

Related Posts

For the past 24 years, Media Temple dedicated itself to serving the needs of the digital creative community.

According to statistics from DataProt, about 122.3 billion email spam messages are sent daily.

In the simplest terms, a domain name is your web address, but you can also think of it as the main entrance to your online space.

• domain name trends
• domain names

A Captain Planet Metaphor for the 5 Components of WordPress WorkPress is an open-source, dynamic, content management system (CMS powering over one third of the world’s websites.

• 5 elements of wordpress
• How does WordPress work
• WordPress behind the scenes

• a. Send us an email
• b. Anonymous form
• Buyer's Guide
• Upcoming Products
• Tips / Contact Us
• Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

New AI Features Reportedly Coming to Safari in iOS 18

Safari will gain a series of AI-powered features and UI enhancements in iOS 18 , AppleInsider reports .

• An "Intelligent Search" browser assistant tool that leverages Apple's on-device AI technology to identify key topics and phrases on webpages for summarization purposes.
• A "Web Eraser" tool that allows users to remove unwanted portions of webpages easily. Erasure is persistent, remaining even when revisiting a site unless changes are reverted.
• A new, quick-access menu emerging from the address bar that consolidates page tools, bringing over some functions that currently sit in the Share Sheet and placing them alongside the new tools.

The iPadOS and macOS versions of Safari are also expected to align further. These new features are purportedly undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of ‌iOS 18‌ and macOS 15 ahead of their unveiling at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in June. Earlier this month, backend code on Apple's servers suggested that a new Safari browsing assistant is in the works, corroborating this report.

Farther in the future, Apple is said to be working on a more powerful version of Visual Look Up that allows users to obtain information on products when browsing through images. The feature is expected to be released sometime in 2025.

Last week, Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman said that ‌iOS 18‌ will "overhaul" many of Apple's built-in apps , including Notes, Mail, Photos , and Fitness. Apple's next-generation operating systems are almost certain to be previewed during Apple's WWDC keynote on June 10, and the updates should be widely released in the fall.

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Top Rated Comments

A "Web Eraser" tool that allows users to remove unwanted portions of webpages easily. Erasure is persistent, remaining even when revisiting a site unless changes are reverted.

Popular Stories

iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone

Report: Five Things Apple Won't Announce at Its Event Next Week

Top Stories: Apple Event Preview, iPad Pro With M4 Chip Rumor, New Beats Headphones, and More

Next article.

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

App Store changes for the EU, new emoji, Podcasts transcripts, and more.

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

Revamped models with OLED displays, M3 or M4 chip, and redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory.

Updated 10.9-inch model and new 12.9-inch model, M2 chip expected.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote on June 10.

Expected to see new AI-focused features and more. Preview coming at WWDC in June with public release in September.

Other Stories

6 days ago by Tim Hardwick

1 week ago by Joe Rossignol

2 weeks ago by MacRumors Staff

2 weeks ago by Joe Rossignol

2 weeks ago by Tim Hardwick

AAPL Company

Iphone web browser choice gets one thing right, two things wrong, say developers.

Being prompted to make an iPhone web browser choice in Europe has seen an uptick in the use of third-party apps , but not everyone is happy about it.

The EU itself is investigating whether Apple’s implementation of the antitrust requirement goes far enough, and developers of third-party browsers say the process gets one thing right, and two things wrong …

iPhone web browser choice

While iPhone owners have been theoretically able to choose their preferred web browser since iOS 14, it wasn’t much of a choice, for a couple of reasons.

First, most people didn’t even know they could choose an alternative browser. The default is Safari, and you’d have to proactively install a third-party one and then manually set it as your default.

Second, Apple insisted that all browsers had to use its own WebKit API. That ensured that competing browsers couldn’t do anything to impact security of privacy, but it also meant that they couldn’t offer faster speeds, or features not available in Safari.

The EU required Apple to drop the WebKit requirement, and also to proactively present users with a choice of browser when they first use their device. These changes were introduced in iOS 17.4 , and only apply within EU countries.

Apple gets one thing right

Developers of third-party web browsers have seen an increase in usage following the implementation of the changes, and they say Apple did play fair in one important respect: browsers are listed in random order, and Safari doesn’t get any special position or prominence in the list.

But two things remain unfair, they say

Wired spoke to a number of developers of alternative iPhone web browsers, and found that they had two criticisms.

First, iPhone owners are not asked to make their choice during the initial iPhone setup process. Instead, they are only presented with the choice when they first open the Safari app. This means that Safari has already presented itself as the default.

“It starts from you clicking Safari,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO and cofounder of Vivaldi. “Which, I think all of us agree, that’s the wrong spot.” Tetzchner said he prefers Google’s implementation of its new browser choice screen that guides Android users to select a default while setting up their phone.

Second, users are given zero information about each browser – just a list of names, many of which will be unfamiliar to non-techy users. That reinforces the idea that they should select Safari unless they already know a reason to make a different choice.

“Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they’re choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser.

A fairer option would be to give each developer a few words to pitch their browser. DuckDuckGo, for example, might have something like “Uses our privacy-first search engine, which doesn’t track you or filter your results.”

We’ll need to wait for the EU’s conclusion to determine what changes might be needed to comply with the law.

Photo by  Amanz  on  Unsplash

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Breaking news from Cupertino. We’ll give you t…

Introduced in 2007 by Steve Jobs, iPhone is Appl…

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!

Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear

Dell 49-inch curved monitor

Manage push notifications

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari browser alongside new operating systems

Safari getting new AI tools in iOS 18

The software — expected to debut as Safari 18 later in 2024 — is currently undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of Apple's next-generation operating system updates, namely iOS 18 and macOS 15, according to people familiar with the matter. Should all of the new features make it to the release candidate stage, users will be treated to a new user interface (UI) for customizing popular page controls, a "Web eraser" feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.

Intelligent Search - AI-enhanced browsing and text summarization

Engineers evaluating the latest builds of Safari 18 can find a toggle for the new page controls menu within the browser's address bar. The menu consolidates — and provides quick access to — old and new page control tools, among them being the browser's new "Intelligent Search" feature.

This feature is not automatically enabled in test builds of Safari 18 and instead requires manual activation from the page controls menu. Once enabled, it's believed the tool leverages Apple's on-device AI technology — specifically the Ajax language-learning model — to identify topics and key phrases within a webpage for which to base the summarization.

In selecting key phrases, Apple's LLM software identifies sentences that provide explanations or describe the structure of objects, depending on the text in question. Words repeated within a text and key sentences are recognized as text topics.

These early indications suggest Apple is striving to deliver text summarization alongside Safari 18 later this year, though the exact implementation of this feature remains fuzzy.

Apple's text summarization features could be a response to rival generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. But Apple's on-device models and technologies like Private Relay could make the experience much more secure for users. Intelligent Search is also likely to be the same AI browser assistant that one X user hinted at a couple of weeks back.

Web Eraser for better content-blocking

Also accessible from the new page controls menu is a feature Apple is testing called "Web Eraser." As its name would imply, it's designed to allow users to remove, or erase, specific portions of web pages, according to people familiar with the feature.

The feature is expected to build upon existing privacy features within Safari and will allow users to erase unwanted content from any webpage of their choosing. Users will have the option to erase banner ads, images, text or even entire page sections, all with relative ease.

The erasure is said to be persistent, rather than limited to a browsing session. This means that Safari will remember the changes even after the original tab or window has been closed.

When visiting a web page with previously erased content, Safari will inform the user that the page has been modified to reflect their desired changes. The browser will also give the user the option to revert changes and restore the webpage to its initial, unaltered state.

As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear.

Updated UI will move key tools into one easy location

The new page controls menu referenced throughout this article will attempt to offer Safari 18 users quick and easy access to several options previously located across different menus and the Share Sheet. Running on pre-release versions of macOS 15, for instance, the menu also pulls in the "Aa" menu common on existing iPadOS versions of the browser. These include zoom options, webpage settings for privacy controls, content blocking options, extension shortcuts, and access to the new AI and erasure tools.

These various options existed previously on macOS, but were found by navigating through the Safari settings menu. Having all of these controls in one central location in the Address Bar will make these options more discoverable for end users. Other options like on-page text search and reader mode are also in this menu.

This all suggests Apple intends to unite the iPadOS and macOS Safari UI paradigms when it unveils its new OS releases during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature could be available in 2025

Simultaneously, Apple is also working on a much more powerful visual search feature scheduled for integration sometime in 2025 that will allow users to obtain information on consumer products when browsing through images. People familiar with the tool say it's similar to the Visual Lookup feature, through which Siri can identify plants, pets and landmarks from photos.

Visual Search could be implemented as a system-wide feature. So, instead of surfacing search results in the Photos app, the user may be able to use Visual Search directly in Safari by selecting an image.

Given development of this tool is in the earlier stages, it remains unclear how Apple will ultimately go about implementing it. It also remains to be seen whether or not the feature will make it through internal testing.

The iPhone maker has expressed significant interest in artificial intelligence and more recently published research related to on-device language learning models. This goes hand in hand with widespread rumors about several other AI-powered software features, many of which are expected to make their debut later this year with iOS 18.

Another big year for Safari

From its inception, Safari was always meant to rival existing web browsers.

Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has since received various upgrades over the years.

More recent versions of Safari provide users with personalized web suggestions, and allow for greater privacy protection with features such as iCloud Private Relay.

This latest set of enhancements only serves to better position Safari against the competition, in an ever-increasing landscape of generative AI tools and third-party ad-blockers.

While Apple tests many such features during different development stages, it is important to remember that not all of them make it to release. Apple has been known to delay features or cancel them entirely, so there's always a chance we may not see these new Safari features after all.

Along with Safari 18 and its associated improvements, we should also see a revamped Calculator with Math Notes make its way to iPadOS 18. Freeform Scenes and Adaptive Voice Shortcuts are new OS features, which are also expected to debut later this year.

Apple is expected to introduce various AI-related enhancements as part of iOS 18 and macOS 15, both of which should be announced at the company's annual WWDC on June 10.

36 Comments

"As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear." They may also have been inspired by Simplified Page....

As long as I can turn it off/hide it they can knock themselves out. 

Will the web eraser feature remove pop up videos, such as the ones that appear on this site?

I use the 'Reader' function in Safari quite a bit, but sometimes it doesn't work very well. Seems like something that AI could help make better. 

Web ads suck but how else do you think your favorite websites will stay in business? Are you prepared to pay a subscription to every site? I doubt it…

Top Stories

Blowout deal: grab Apple's M2 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,599 today only

Apple's new Photos app will utilize generative AI for image editing

New iPad Air & iPad Pro models are coming soon - what to expect

New Apple Pencil may be called 'Apple Pencil Pro'

Siri for iOS 18 to gain massive AI upgrade via Apple's Ajax LLM

How to watch Apple's 'Let Loose' iPad Air & iPad Pro event

Featured deals.

Deals: Apple AirPods dip to $79, M3 iMac 24-inch drops to $1,149 at Amazon

Latest exclusives.

Apple's iOS 18 to streamline task management with unified events and reminders

An inside look at Apple's various internal iOS variants that aid development

Latest comparisons.

Apple headphone shootout: Beats Solo 4 vs AirPods Max

M3 15-inch MacBook Air vs M3 14-inch MacBook Pro — Ultimate buyer's guide

M3 MacBook Air vs M1 MacBook Air — Compared

Latest news.

How to add fonts in macOS Sonoma

Installing fonts in macOS Sonoma is almost as easy as downloading them. Here's how you can add them to your Mac.

Secret Apple 'Project ACDC' to pioneer AI chips for data centers

Amidst a high-stakes AI race, Apple is forging ahead with "Project ACDC," a secret initiative recently come to light that develops proprietary AI chips for data centers.

US Labor Board rules Apple illegally interrogated retail staff in NYC

The US Labor Board found that Apple conducted unauthorized interrogations of employees at the Apple World Trade Center retail store in New York City.

A new teaser on Apple's website could be indicative of some of the company's upcoming software plans, namely a new version of its ubiquitous Photos app that will tap generative AI to deliver Photoshop-grade editing capabilities for the average consumer, AppleInsider has learned.

iPhone 17 Pro rumored to get 12GB of RAM

A new rumor suggests the iPhone 17 Pro, due in 2025, will increase to 12GB of RAM and have a more narrow Dynamic Island cutout.

Lots of new smart home gear, cheap HomeKit sensors, & Matter 1.2 on HomeKit Insider

On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we check out several new products and discuss the delay with vacuums in Matter 1.2.

AppleInsider has learned that code in the Japanese version of Apple's website reveals multiple mentions of an "Apple Pencil Pro," ahead of the expected release of a new model on May 7.

Apple Arcade rolls out five new games, including 'Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse'

Apple Arcade is set to receive new titles in June, including the adventure game "Return to Monkey Island+" and the retro-style platformer "Tomb of the Mask."

Warren Buffett has sold a lot of Apple stock so far in 2024

Famed investor Warren Buffett cut his firm's Apple holdings by 13% in the first quarter of 2023, as analyst consensus was that the iPhone was seeing declining demand.

Latest Videos

Beats Solo 4 headphones review: Great audio quality and features

iPhone 16 Pro: what to expect from Apple's fall 2024 flagship phone

Latest reviews.

Unistellar Odyssey Pro review: Unlock pro-level astronomy with your iPhone from your backyard

Ugreen DXP8800 Plus network attached storage review: Good hardware, beta software

Espresso 17 Pro review: Magnetic & modular portable Mac monitor

{{ title }}

{{ summary }}

Search results for

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

New iOS 18 leak reveals how Apple's AI will transform Safari and Siri

Published on May 3, 2024

• A new report sheds light on specific AI features Apple may roll out in its next iOS update, improving core apps like Safari and Siri.
• On-device text analysis seems to be a major focus, potentially enabling features like quick website summaries and smarter Siri interactions.
• Apple’s commitment to privacy remains evident, with the report suggesting that much of the AI processing could happen locally on your device.

The buzz surrounding Apple’s major AI push with the iPhone 16 series and iOS 18 has been building for months. Now, we might finally have a first look at what we can expect from Apple’s AI deployment.

In a detailed leak, Apple Insider has revealed key details about the AI-powered upgrades that Apple is planning across its core iOS applications. These updates, aimed at Safari, Spotlight Search, Siri, Mail, and Messages, promise to elevate the user experience while preserving privacy — a key factor in Apple’s AI strategy.

According to the report, a major feature in Apple’s AI development is a lightning-fast, on-device generation of complete sentence responses. The ‘Ajax’ LLM reportedly analyzes text input at incredible speeds, offering multiple potential replies ranked by accuracy and relevance.

Text analysis will be a cornerstone feature, with the built-in LLM identifying keywords and phrases for succinct text summaries within both Safari and Messages. Apple’s upcoming Safari 18 update may introduce a new ‘Intelligent Search’ feature that would allow users to generate concise summaries of web pages.

Apple’s AI model also demonstrates remarkable integration with the device and its apps, identifying contacts mentioned in a text and pulling relevant information from the Calendar app to craft contextually appropriate responses. Siri will likely benefit from this, as it will be able to analyze Messages content and potentially offer simplified summaries or responses.

Of course, more complex tasks like creative text generation or in-depth text analysis might still rely on some cloud processing, which aligns with previous reports of Apple exploring partnerships with OpenAI and Google for the same.

Apple Insider further reports that even within testing environments, the software shows a clear dedication to user privacy. The company aims to minimize cloud-based processing, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected.

It’s anticipated that Apple will formally unveil these AI-powered features at the Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) later this year.

You might like